FEATURE:
Spotlight
Miraa May
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ANOTHER artist who…
has been around for a little while but is making their biggest and most important moves now, I wanted to highlight Miraa May. As her debut album, Tales of a Miracle, is out on 27th May, it is a great time to spotlight a phenomenal British artist. She was planning to put out an album before now, but the pandemic has shelved any plans. There will be other interviews and features closer to the release of the album. At the moment, I could only see some from 2020 and last year. I want to bring in a couple that are pretty interesting. I will finish up with some details about Tales of a Miracle. It is an album that has been in the works a while, but it is looking like it will be among the best of this year. CLASH spotlighted and highlighted the incredible Miraa May in 2020:
“North London has inspired Miraa May’s music so much that you have to look for a point where it didn’t. “Think about who’s from Tottenham, it’s such a musically enriched place to be from,” she explains. “If you’re musically inclined and you grew up in Tottenham, that inclination is only going to come out even more.’
Born in Algeria but raised in the ends, Miraa May is the name on everybody’s lips, even across the pond. With soulful remedies and head boppers enlisted upon her Soundcloud since 2014, her claim to full-fledged acknowledgement is seemingly earned. Rather than sticking to the usual conventions of R&B, her North London influence is evident especially on her most recent EP, ‘Care Package’. That EP’s cover features a manga-fied Miraa May, reflection the inspiration she draws from female-empowered narratives of animes such as Sailor Moon.
But this narrative isn’t the basis of her music. Miraa’s music, she says if fuelled by emotional instinct: whatever you feel is up to you. “Anything,” she confirms. “Whatever you want to feel. If you want to be pissed off, good. Feel something. I would hate for my music to be background noise.”
Describing the music industry as a journey of ups and downs, as the ascendant star reviews her progress so far, the 23-year-old relays a message to her old self: “Take time, relax and it’s not that deep. I would like to give my old self a whole paragraph of advice.”
With this just being the genesis in her music adventure, there are large goals in Miraa’s foresight. “I see myself in a very big house with my friends in close distance. I see my music out there, doing what it does, penetrating the minds of young people”.
I hope that there are more new interviews with Miraa May soon. Since 2019/2020, her profile and stock has risen! She is going to go on to become one of our biggest artists and most celebrated names. PAUSE her met Miraa May in October 2020. The recent birth of her son, clearly, affected how she was writing. Her perspective altered:
“Tomi: You’re releasing your debut album this year in the middle of a pandemic. Does this add or take away pressure from the release?
Miraa: No I’m not releasing an album.
T: Oh?
M: I would have loved to release an album this year but obviously I had a baby so I need to take time to look after my child because he’s only going to be small like this for a short time. Also we’re in a pandemic so you can’t really go and push the album. Personally I don’t think there’s a point when you’re a newer artist like me and you haven’t done big numbers before. I think it’s best to wait for when the world gets back to normal.
T: Congratulations on the birth of your son! Your single ‘Baby’ is an ode to him. What has motherhood taught you about yourself and how has this then influenced or changed your artistry, if at all?
M: Motherhood has taught me that I can do it all and that there’s no limit to my ability to do it all. It’s also taught me more than ever that I’m human because there’s this specific image of being a mother and what you’re supposed to do. Artists such as Cardi B and Kehlani have proved against that certain image and that you can just be yourself even with a child. Your mothers are humans too with their own hopes and dreams.
T: What’s your favourite part of process when it comes to making a new song?
M: Listening to the demo, it doesn’t get old. You get this thing called demoitis, it’s when you’ve made a demo and it sounds very different from the first listen to when it’s actually released. Sometimes you’re stuck with the way it sounds at the demo stage and you obviously can’t release it like that but sometimes you feel like you should”.
I would recommend people pre-order Miraa May’s Tales of a Miracle. It is out on 27th and it is going to be one of the biggest albums of 2022. A wonderful artists whose music is absolutely remarkable:
“One of the most prodigiously talented artists in the UK, Miraa May releases her much-anticipated debut album Tales of a Miracle. Already having co-written for the likes of Jorja Smith on her single ‘Be Honest’, Mahalia on her single ‘Jealous’ and Little Simz for her short film ‘I Love You, I Hate You’, the Algerian born singer has enlisted a female dominated team to deliver this exquisite body of work. The project is a personal ode to her childhood adversities, and intimately describes her survival as the miracle that rose from them. 'Wild Things' embodies all that Miraa has to offer as an artist: honesty, strength, vulnerability, humour and passion. Much like the three singles before it ('Go Girl' with pop heavyweight RAYE, 'In My Feelings' and 'Big Woman' featuring powerhouse Stefflon Don); 'Wild Things' appears to have the makings of an instant smash hit and parades the magic of Miraa May effortlessly. In a career first for Miraa the track has secured a first play as Radio 1’s Hottest Record In The World. The unstoppable graft of the young singer has enabled her to capture the hearts and ears of over 920k monthly listeners. A noticeable feat by Spotify, who have made her the current face of their flagship female playlist 'EQUAL'. With love, integrity and energetic female energy woven into each track - This compelling debut is sure to make long lasting impressions within the industry, cementing Miraa May as one of the best singer/songwriters to come out of the UK”.
I wanted to spotlight Miraa May, as she is an incredible artist who has already released so many terrific tracks. With an album due very soon, so many more people are going to turn onto her music. I think that she will get demand around the world, and there will be big festivals and U.S. dates before too long. The forthcoming Tales of a Miracle is a stunning album from a young artist who…
SHOULD be celebrated.
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Spotlight Miraa May
